McCaw rubbishes cheat claims

2011-09-03 13:12

Auckland - Several thousand fans turned out in the rain on Saturday to greet the team at their civic reception, cheering them as heroes in the making despite the revival of claims that they are the world's most successful team because they cheat.

Henry rubbished claims the All Blacks operate outside the rules.

"We ignore it and move on with what we can control," he said.

McCaw described the accusations as "old stuff that keeps coming up and a bit of imagination (by the accusers) wouldn't go astray."

The All Blacks said they are ready to challenge for the World Cup as they before they open the tournament on home soil against Tonga.

The side is down to just three fit loose forwards and, as well as facing accusations of being serial cheats, has had to contend with news France is contemplating resting several frontline players for their crucial Pool A clash.

A weakened French side could leave the All Blacks going into the sudden-death rounds underdone, repeating the scenario that led to their demise in the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Cup.

The New Zealanders are under enormous public pressure to win the World Cup for the first time in 24 years to appease their supporters in a land where rugby success is seen as a symbol of what the country stands for.

Adding to a tough countdown for the tournament favourites have been losses to the second and third ranked sides, Australia and South Africa, in recent weeks.

However, coach Graham Henry and captain Richie McCaw on Saturday said they are well prepared for rugby's toughest challenge.

Henry was aware of talk the All Blacks could face a weakened French side, similar to the tactic Scotland used against the New Zealanders in 2007, but said he had learned from the past about the intricacies of sudden-death rugby.

"At the last World Cup we had a soft qualifying round. We played Scotland B so I think in our preparation we have to take that into consideration. We might have to work a bit harder during the week," he said.

McCaw added: "We've got to set a standard we're happy with (against Tonga) and then improve it. You can't just come out and turn it on when you think you have to because it will be too late by then."

McCaw, Jerome Keino and Victor Vito are the only fit loose forwards in the squad after Adam Thomson and Kieran Read were both injured in the Tri-Nations Test against Australia a week ago.

Thomson is expected to have recovered from his elbow injury before the All Blacks second match against Japan on September 16 but the outlook for Read's ankle injury was less clear.

"We're praying," Henry said. "We think he will play before the end of the round robin. That's a pretty aggressive rehab but knowing Kieran he'll give it his best shot. He'll play in this World Cup but how soon is the question."

Locks Sam Whitelock and Anthony Boric, who both have experience in the number six jersey will act as back up loose forwards if required while Thomson and Read are out of action.

As a final touch to their preparations, the All Blacks have drafted New Zealand's only successful World Cup coach, Sir Brian Lochore who guided the 1987 team, into their group in a mentoring role.

The All Blacks play Tonga, Japan, France and then Canada in Pool A.

AFP

Comments

Benny66 - 2011-09-03 13:21

Of course he'll deny his team cheats - the cheat!

Blougroen - 2011-09-03 13:31

Thanks for informing us Henry - in fact - we already knew that you have been ignoring critisism for a while - especially the bits about obstruction formed by players standing off at rucks and mauls in front of the last player feet . . . . .

Marshall - 2011-09-03 14:00

Um, what about this? http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/TriNations/McCaw-admits-to-cheating-20100728

Kaapie - 2011-09-03 14:40

The offside king.. Against the wobblies they were at least a metre offside at almost every ruck.. And as for hands in, he is king

Ron - 2011-09-03 14:59

Amazing how he gets away with cheating, Come on Referees pick up on this already, .....http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/TriNations/McCaw-admits-to-cheating-20100728

Henk - 2011-09-03 15:02

http://sportcrazy.net/rugby/new-zealand-all-cheats-stats/
Sly Buggers

Henk - 2011-09-03 15:05

I think the reason they can't win the World Cup is because they know they dont deserve it!

Joe_Massahar - 2011-09-03 15:23

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/our-experts/3933283/McCaws-politeness-saves-him-from-the-sinbin
In the words of a NZ journalist: "Richie McCaw might get away with murder, but hey, at least he's our murderer".

whereu - 2011-09-03 22:31

Watch the haka carefully – it's the only time you'll see all the All Blacks on-side.

Debra-Lee Boulter - 2011-09-03 13:24

Finally the world has woken up to the fact they cheat, we have been saying it for years!!

Roadster Babe - 2011-09-03 13:32

You are both a pair of @holes - typical of Bok supporters. Your team uses dirty r@ce based selection policies and you have the nerve to shout cheat.
Why is it that everytime these useless morons lose their pathetic supporters have to blame someone other that their political driven selection policies.

AnimalFarm - 2011-09-03 13:37

Roadster you on the wrong forum poplap.This is not a selection of the BOKKE forum but one on how the chokers cheat!!!

Mark - 2011-09-03 13:48

Roadster you idiot. Every player of colour in the Bok side, deserves their spot. Maybe not the coach, but the players do. You're off topic.

Debra-Lee Boulter - 2011-09-03 13:56

Roadster babe, do you have a disabled badge because you clearly blind, anyone with eyesight can tell they cheat, even the Aussie commentators think they chat, everybody knows they cheat, just watch them play, constantly offside, Richie constantly gets away with being on the wrong side...you do not have to be a Springbok to see this...The refs let time get way with more forward passes then anyone else..I could go on and on......

Roadster Babe - 2011-09-03 14:43

@ Mark - do you really think Habana is there on form or that Chilliboy is the 3rd best hooker in the country. He isn't even the best hooker in PTA or that Ndigane is one of the best wings in the country. You are brainwashed by the media into thinking that the players of color are there on merit cause you never get to see any other player. The whole system is flawed , hence the lack of skills and a boring game plan. Sure the game plan comes off every once in a while and thats what Bok supporters are hoping for that NZ choke coz thet know there players are useless.
@ Debra - give up on the victim mentality its lame - do you really thing that professional refs will let someone(a whole team) cheat and continously get away with it - Get real

Nasdaq7 - 2011-09-03 15:02

You can't hurt us with your drivel. The All Blacks cheat by going offside and using forward passes. Cry babies that can't win anything. You are going to lose. I'm so confident I'm betting on the Boks. I won't have sleepless nights because our boys rely on their experience. If we lose so what! But if the ABs lose again...then all their cheating hasn't helped them, their trophy cabinet is empty.

rc8000c - 2011-09-03 20:26

Roadster hold on. Where are you from?

gatvol4corru - 2011-09-03 13:45

We all knew this for awhile! VIVA LA France!!!! :) GO BOKKE!

patrickb - 2011-09-03 13:49

bla bla bla.......
The Aussies are going to win in any case.

Old EagleEye - 2011-09-03 15:28

In your dreams........maybe, but not in REAL life!!!!!

Razz-ma-Tazz - 2011-09-03 17:11

I won't argue!! Whether the AB or Ausies is going to win, but I will argue that the BOKS won't win this WC 2011.

GraemeBB - 2011-09-03 22:19

@Razz - dont you have a fleet of tazz's to manage. You sound like that air-head Roadkill babe. You two must be from Brakpan.

brett.macdonald1 - 2011-09-03 14:39

The All Blacks won't win the World Cup again because they don't know how to play without cheating. Every 4 years the world's ref's have the spotlight on them and they have to blow fairly… This complacent cheating is what sees them win every game where the ref allows and see them fall on their arrogant asses when they don't! If refs blew fairly consistently we'd see this sorry bunch move from #1 in the world rankings to a consistent #5 or #6...

Jack Turner - 2011-09-03 15:48

If what you guys say is true,,,It basically means that New Zealand rugby have all the Refs in their pockets....Come on with your childish talk.....The fact that we wont beat them ( In the Semi's, if we get that far) is tantemount to the fact, that you are in advance looking for excuses, when we do get beat....

BokBru - 2011-09-03 18:40

Jack they have Paddy (a New Zealander) in their pocket. He is the boss of all the other refs and they must do as he says. Speaks for itself does it not.

GraemeBB - 2011-09-03 22:25

Old Jacky boy - it is not "us". We are just stating our opinion on the site. This comes from several camps within world rugby. The facts are that Richie has pushed the boundries of the law, and has indeed got away with murder. I wouldnt call him a cheat though. We will all do the same thing over and over if we get away with it.
I think NZ is worried about the RWC, and I dont blame them.
Go Bokke

Kleinboet - 2011-09-04 13:59

I do believe that the Northern Hemisphere referees will blow them up for off side and forward passes. Usually it is Southern Hemisphere referees that let them get away with murder. I also believe this is the reason why they have been chokers so often.
Paddy will do his utmost this time round to get the Northern Hemisphere referees to conform, but I do not think they will fall for it. He cannot tell anybody not to apply the rules; only to concentrate on certain rules.
New Zealand will choke once again, solely because they will be unable not to cheat - so drilled in that they will revert back under pressure. You will hear New Zealand moan about refereeing like never before!

slg - 2011-09-03 16:20

They get away with what they can.
The failure is with the IRB and its antiquated, nepotistic officiating system centered on one Ego-Filled referee to officiate a game that cannot possibly be officiated by one person.
The longer the IRB allows this to continue and does not modernize the officiating system, the longer rugby results will be unreliable and the game won't live up to its full potential.
American Football had the same problems. It took poet away from referees' Ego's, put more than one referee on the pitch, allowed team appeals, and used technology to full to create reliable results.
Common sense. Not to the IRB. They're the old, antiquated side of monarchical Europe and Paddy O'Brien plays them like a banjo.
Referees like Andre Watson thrive in the limelight. They like being the center of attraction, the men wielding exaggerated power. The problem is rugby becomes weaker, players and supporters have to endure week-in and week-out of distorted results.

slg - 2011-09-03 21:06

"It took power away from referees' Ego's"

MockTurtle - 2011-09-03 21:34

sure, american football took power away from the ref. it now rests with the advertisers. heck, the (junk food) adverts are more of a spectacle than the game itself. lol. nfl is the sport of fat ass people.

slg - 2011-09-04 05:54

That doesn't mean rugby has do it. Just take the good things, like sorting out the officiating. This is the main problem with rugby. It's absurd.

Mark - 2011-09-03 16:39

Watch them offside’s continuously at ruck and mall time, they NEVER come from behind the last line of feet. And I challenge ANYONE to watch any of their previous games and say I’m wrong

dbnz - 2011-09-03 18:32

you're wrong. that was an easy challenge Mark.

DAMAINMAN - 2011-09-03 17:22

the nz rugby echelon is rugbymad and its nice that the ab play game with such passion but when cheats like the excitable,uncitable mccaw,grey-area graham,or the dirtiest player in world rugby,no 5but (starts the game with no18 jersey) ali williams,talk about grey areas- its new talk for cheating which is defined as creating an unfair advantage,eg throwing sideline ball in skew punching, intimidating, (their age old trick) forward passes,obstructing,pushing offsides limits at the rucks,as they loose the dirtier they become intimidating,inciting,punching,its not the first time theyve got professional boxers to box for them on the field(sbw) watch him still box our boys on the field.when are the ab's going to be disciplined into throwing a lineout ball in straight,when last have you seen it?history has shown the ab's and their allies nz rugby board and sanzar oficials have through the years given sa players a raw unfair deal,if you compare decisions made,if uncitable richie was a sa player hed have a record of at least a dozen citing infrringements.somehow the nz officials have infiltrated or have influencing powers over the decision makers(officiaters of the game)or have orchestrated strategies for certain refs/Lmen/ citing officials for specific games.victory is the goal but not at all costs,there has to be some ethos in it as the scales of rugby justice always weighs to nz.ugly wins arent good for rugby just play within the rules.consistency from the officialsisallweask

Kleinboet - 2011-09-04 14:17

@Damainman: I tried to read you but could not ~ no capital letters, no construction to sentences, no properly organised train of thoughts, etcetera, etcetera.
I do not want to preach, nor am I a teacher ~ I'm merely saying that I could not read you though I tried. Perhaps it is I who am too stupid. Sorry.

Razz-ma-Tazz - 2011-09-03 17:29

What a way to seek media attention and to distract the AB. It is like saying Matfield is playing with a piece of steel wraaped under his arm guard. If the AB are so called CHEATERS why don't the SA refs constantly penalize them. What a JOKE. I know of two BOKS that was found guilty of CHEATING, "DOOS" v/d WESTHUIZEN and ANDRIES "PARKIE" BEKKER. :-) :-) :-) LOL!!!!

AnimalFarm - 2011-09-03 18:02

Razz this is a rugby blog ,so go play with your ps2 you now faark all about rugby you WNKR!

GraemeBB - 2011-09-03 22:35

@Razz - let me TRY help you. It is not SA making these claims, but rather a general feeling amoung international rugby teams. Joost and Andries made their mistakes, and are paying consequences of thier own - and certainly dont need to answer to you. What have you done for your country, or what have you achieved that rivals these men? Whats that? Nothing? Then piss off.

dbnz - 2011-09-03 18:22

hahahah....whata load of c@*7%p below in comments. here's some kiwi advice. we will only ever worry when the drivel (sorry, articles) end. Only at that point will the lack of pathetic excuses indicate the ABs must have slipped off their continuous/tedious position as world number 1 ranking. so thx all for the backhanded compliments and pathetic excuses for your poor rankings year in year out. rather than cheating claims, heres a tip: have your teams win more games than you loses against us. then you may start reading cheating claims by sad, jealous reporters against your teams

kiwimania - 2011-09-03 18:52

@dbnz........AMEN brother......AMEN...!!!! I just wish the NZ commentators could make more of all the SA and Aus "cheating" on the ground when they play....but hey.....they are true sportsman...so unlike the others....!!! I suppose that being 3ird by a long way on the World Rankings is such a worry to them that they cower under anything they can use to slam at the AB's. Pity nobody told them....we don't care....:-).

DubaiBok - 2011-09-03 19:43

Bok supporters, I agree, we should not hide behind another team's cheating to justify our poor performances. If you are a good team then you shoud be able to beat another team whether they cheat or not.
All I can say on the matter is that the Bok's has two World Cups (the last won just 4 years ago). The AB's has one that is 24 years old (and the Bok's weren't even there). When we won in '95 we were accused of food poisoning the AB's. Wonder who can't handle losing . . .

RaedanWulfe - 2011-09-03 22:36

Ouch, burn...

Gatvolaswell - 2011-09-03 20:50

It amazing that all the millions of people watching the TV don't the rule as Richie does!!!!

Gatvolaswell - 2011-09-03 20:55

It amazing that all the millions of people watching the TV don't know the rules as Richie does!!!!

Steve Wonderboy - 2011-09-04 01:57

The worst part about Richie's cheating is that when he is spotted by the ref's, instead of giving him a card they coach him. If they did the same to Butch there would be a lot of injured players on the park.

Kcolraw - 2011-09-04 03:06

Just as with the All Blacks many South Africans said that the Bulls cheat (when they were winning) and it is true that they slowed the ball down for there opposition and got away with it. I don't think the referees are biased consciously they know that team A should win team B and therefor they seem to be looking more at team B to make mistakes and miss a few of team A's mistakes. I have seen this happen in many games that the (so called) weaker team gets punished for anything and the better gets away with murder.
Or is it just me?

odysseus - 2011-09-04 09:45

Yes you are quite correct...not just the weaker team, but often the visiting team too... and the other big tactic is for the opposing captain or coach to set up a meeting with the ref before the game, and ask him to be vigilant for certain things that they feel are potential transgressions... For eg, McCaw bringing up the names of Butch, Brussouw, Bakkies and Bismarck (the B's) for special refereeing attention regarding high tackles or whatever... and the ref then closes his eyes to all else that goes on during the game...

jacquesalthea.knotter - 2011-09-04 13:23

You can only be called a cheat if the rules are not strictly adhered to .But refs interpretations are the problem here.I just hope they are strict to the rules at the WC,With "Straight" line out throws .As I found that also a weakness about the linesman refs.It cant be contested if the ball is thrown in crooked..

FM150 - 2011-09-04 17:17

Im not sure thats the case to be honoust! Its more exploiting the rules than cheating! Any team can adopt it and its there loss if they dont! And the other teams arnt doing the same. And if they get penelised for something the AB does, then the blame should go to the ref! They defnitly exploiting the rules, as interpreted by the ref!

Zane Daniels - 2011-09-04 21:50

Grow up when someone is great at something he is a cheat it happens in every sport.

Zane Daniels - 2011-09-04 21:54

Oh and every player try's The same

CobaltZulu - 2011-09-05 14:27

When questioned as to why the All Blacks wear black and why they are so precious over it given their response to Englands change strip, Richie McCaw responded by saying they wore black to match their wives's eyes!!!!